Abstract: The paper dealt with the question how children in different cultures develop concepts of moral and interpersonal obligations, and how they apply these concepts in moral reasoning about a situation of conflicting claims. Both 80 lcelandic and Chinese subjects were assessed at ages seven and nine years. They were presented with an interpersonal-moral conflict in which the protagonist had to decide whether she or he kept a promise to the best friend or accepted an interesting invitation from a third child. Various categories of interpersonal/moral reasoning were explored in a qualitative interview.A content analysis of reasons for action choices as well as reasons for the rnoral judgment of these choices was performed. The results of the study showed striking differences between the two cultures with regard to the types of reasons: Chinese children were more oriented towards altruistic obligations and relationship concerns, while egoistic concerns played a small role in their reasoning. In contradistinction,egoistic concerns and the contractual obligations of promise-keeping were more relevant for the lcelandic children. The results also showed the developmental effects.

Key words: Social moral thinking, friendship, cross-cultural study